Where’s our dline rank? How should we improve?

[kcbubb]

https://www.ftnfantasy.com/articles/...-line-rankings

I have no idea if this site is credible but it’s about what I expected. Chiefs are ranked are 22nd dline in the nfl. I’ve been slapped around pretty good around here for suggesting we upgrade the d line by trading for chase young. So, how do we upgrade the dline? And so many here are consumed with upgrading the offense when we’re already the number 1 offense and I could see us getting better even with our wrs, not worse, so I don’t see us needing to upgrade offensively (we don’t need Dhop with his price tag) as much as we should focus on the defense, especially the dline. So, is there a way we could improve the defense? How would you improve the defense, especially the dline? Great dline play is critical to a good spags defense.

[kcbubb]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

I don't understand this list or how they came up with their rankings. If they are using PFF rankings, then the fact that this team has PFF's Defensive Player of the Year on it should automatically put us in the top half, but we have back to back 1st round DEs and a guy in Omenihu that can get after the QB when given the opportunity. We should be top 5-10.

Also why are we posting stupid articles for random obscure sites? Rage baiting?

Yes, using that article was pretty lazy on my part. Not a good source but the point I was trying to make is that the of all the position groups on the team, dline is probably the worst group or at minimum the group with the most question marks, IMO. If our dline is top 10, we win the superbowl. The linebackers are really good. DBs are young but played great last year and I expect them to improve. Offense will be top 5, easy. If the dline is top 10, the rest of the d is gonna be that much better. Which is why I’ve wondered if we could possibly improve the dline, especially DT. Nnadi is probably our lowest quality starter? And who’s his competition? Coburn, a 6th round pick? Pretty weak at that spot.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by kcbubb

Yes, using that article was pretty lazy on my part. Not a good source but the point I was trying to make is that the of all the position groups on the team, dline is probably the worst group or at minimum the group with the most question marks, IMO. If our dline is top 10, we win the superbowl. The linebackers are really good. DBs are young but played great last year and I expect them to improve. Offense will be top 5, easy. If the dline is top 10, the rest of the d is gonna be that much better. Which is why I’ve wondered if we could possibly improve the dline, especially DT. Nnadi is probably our lowest quality starter? And who’s his competition? Coburn, a 6th round pick? Pretty weak at that spot.

I think Akiem Hicks might make some sense even if he is kind of ancient. The Chiefs didn't sign Dunlap until late July last year, so I imagine they're just being patient and wanting to fully assess the guys they've currently got before determining if they really need the interior help. If Nnadi plays like he did prior to 2022, the Chiefs may determine they don't need to add anybody.

Keep in mind that we're getting back Wharton, and Omenihu will play snaps on the interior. That still doesn't account for the loss of Saunders, but it gives Cullen and Spags a lot of room for creativity that they might not have had last year.

We don't need anything fancy, just one or two dudes who don't shit the bed on running downs. Nnadi had a weird decline last year, but that doesn't mean he can't be what he was prior. And don't sleep on Coburn. He's really smart and should be able to contribute a lot for a rookie.

[BossChief]

I know I’m a homer. I tend to see the bright side in things, so everyone knows you have to read sone of my posts with that in mind. This evaluation may prove that true, but I think it’s accurate.

Chris Jones is almost a Reggie White level player and may actually be on par with him at this point. He wrecks whole game plans that are designed to avoid him. He’s effective inside and outside. He wrecks the run game and disrupts every aspect of opposing passing games from opposing QBs needing to make rushed decisions, to throwing opposing linemen into QBs, to forcing QBs to pull the ball down because he gets his arms up so effectively…he’s the most dominant defensive player in the game. Nuff said.

George Karlaftis was a very impressive player in the last 8 games of the regular season and also in the playoffs. He wins with power and did so as a rookie before the luxury of a whole offseason to work on strength and speed training. Kid is a very hard worker and will be improved in technique and strength/speed in 2023 over the guy that was getting a sack almost every game down the stretch. I read sone parallels of him to JJ Watt as young players, but still think he’s Tamba Karlaftis. Very tweeter DT/DE.

Omenihu has a lot of potential to show up a lot in the defined role he and Wharton will share of the undersized disruptive DT hybrid that racks up lots of sacks playing of single blocks by guards and opposing OL coaches try to limits the damage Jones causes. He’s going to have us forgetting about Saunders real quick.

Tershawn Wharton was starting to look like he was going to surprise us last year before he got hurt. Who knows.

Uzi probably has the most bend of our DEs and should provide some disruption later in the year as he earns more snd more snaps from Omenihu and allows Cullen to move guys around to gain favorable matchups.

IF Omenihu + Uzi > Dunlap + Clark ……this DL will be pretty good in the second half of the year.

They also will have the benefit of having a stud back 7 to give them time to work.

This DL has the makings of a top 5 DL in the NFL in the second half of the year.

Thompson has an upside worth monitoring because if he gets there, he can be a “OBJ killer”

Mike Danna has been the definition of a solid defensive end the last couple years. 9 sacks in 2 years for a rotational player is solid.

[Titty Meat]

We don't need to do anything with the D Line and PFF chugs cock

[Couch-Potato]

Young would be a welcomed addition, but how about Ngakoue? or Clowney?

Any of these three would be an upgrade at LE.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by BossChief

I know I’m a homer. I tend to see the bright side in things, so everyone knows you have to read sone of my posts with that in mind. This evaluation may prove that true, but I think it’s accurate.

Chris Jones is almost a Reggie White level player and may actually be on par with him at this point. He wrecks whole game plans that are designed to avoid him. He’s effective inside and outside. He wrecks the run game and disrupts every aspect of opposing passing games from opposing QBs needing to make rushed decisions, to throwing opposing linemen into QBs, to forcing QBs to pull the ball down because he gets his arms up so effectively…he’s the most dominant defensive player in the game. Nuff said.

George Karlaftis was a very impressive player in the last 8 games of the regular season and also in the playoffs. He wins with power and did so as a rookie before the luxury of a whole offseason to work on strength and speed training. Kid is a very hard worker and will be improved in technique and strength/speed in 2023 over the guy that was getting a sack almost every game down the stretch. I read sone parallels of him to JJ Watt as young players, but still think he’s Tamba Karlaftis. Very tweeter DT/DE.

Omenihu has a lot of potential to show up a lot in the defined role he and Wharton will share of the undersized disruptive DT hybrid that racks up lots of sacks playing of single blocks by guards and opposing OL coaches try to limits the damage Jones causes. He’s going to have us forgetting about Saunders real quick.

Tershawn Wharton was starting to look like he was going to surprise us last year before he got hurt. Who knows.

Uzi probably has the most bend of our DEs and should provide some disruption later in the year as he earns more snd more snaps from Omenihu and allows Cullen to move guys around to gain favorable matchups.

IF Omenihu + Uzi > Dunlap + Clark ……this DL will be pretty good in the second half of the year.

They also will have the benefit of having a stud back 7 to give them time to work.

This DL has the makings of a top 5 DL in the NFL in the second half of the year.

Thompson has an upside worth monitoring because if he gets there, he can be a “OBJ killer”

Mike Danna has been the definition of a solid defensive end the last couple years. 9 sacks in 2 years for a rotational player is solid.

This is pretty close to how I feel.

If this coaching staff and front office is brave, they can legit roll into this season with the DL they have. They will suffer the growing pains of a DL rotation that needs time to gel, and a couple young guys who need time to develop.

If they can suffer it on the front end, then this unit, given reps, is going to be extremely good, very fast.

Jones -- All World
Wharton -- good reliever
Nnadi -- you can suffer him
Coburn -- Saunders-level upside

Karlaftis -- double-digit sack potential
Umenihu -- high floor and high upside
Danna -- can give you starter-level snaps
FAU -- high floor rookie with high upside
Thompson -- can get reps when Mahomes puts us up by 20 points

This DL will need development over the course of the season. By December, they're going to be dynamic, interchangeable, and relentless.

But I think the staff wants to add Dunlap. Dunlap would absolutely make this team better in the short-term and provide badly needed guidance.

I just hate the idea that he would play 40-50% of the snaps on the season -- that's like 400+ reps that could go to FAU/Umenihu/Thompson, who could use them to be fantastic by next year.

Only downside I see on this DL longterm is that you can run on them. But perhaps Coburn is going to hit the ground running, and eliminates that concern.

[O.city]

Why do you think they wanna add Dunlap?

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by Couch-Potato

Young would be a welcomed addition, but how about Ngakoue? or Clowney?

Any of these three would be an upgrade at LE, next year we find us a NT.

So you want to bench Karlaftis already? Brilliant.

[O.city]

DL is as much about rotation as a single dude. It's such a grind. They could use another DE body or two.

[MahomesMagic]

I would like to add one more vet rusher before training camp.